HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A tale of two matches would see Alabama A&M (3-15, 2-1 SWAC) fall behind 2-0 before rallying for three straight to pull out a thrilling 3-2 victory (20-25, 7-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-4) over Bethune-Cookman (0-15, 0-3 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Sunday, October 2.
The Wildcats would open a 15-10 margin midway through the opening frame before growing that spread to 23-16. A 3-0 mini run capped by a pair of service aces by freshman outside hitter
Caitlin Shaw (Desoto, Texas) narrowed the margin to four before B-CU closed out a 25-20 decision.
They would quickly build on that 1-0 match lead as they blitzed the Bulldogs with a 25-7 Game 2 decision before A&M got off the deck with their backs against the wall. A 13-8 stretch to open the third set gave them a strong start in that regard but Bethune pulled to within four twice, the last at 19-15. That would not last, however, as Alabama A&M took six of the next nine points to get on the board with a 25-18 victory.
Trailing 3-1 early in Game 4, A&M mounted a 15-8 run to take a 16-9 lead before four straight points, the last two on kills by Mecca Freeman, sliced the deficit to three. The clubs would then alternate the next eight points until Jasmine Moore drilled a pair of kills as part of three straight to bring it to 20-18.
The Bulldogs rebounded to go up 24-20 only to see another kill by Freeman and back-to-back aces pull them within one. It would be as close as they would get though as freshman middle blocker
Madison Reagins (Duncanville, Texas) sent it to a decisive fifth set with a kill that gave them a narrow 25-23 victory.
And decisive it would be as Alabama A&M saw victory within their grasp and wasted no time in securing it. From the very beginning they asserted their will, pounding their way to a devastating 15-4 win that locked up the 3-2 victory.
Freshman outside hitter
Bailey Duckett (Huntsville, Ala.) led the offensive attack with 14 kills to go with six digs while freshman setter
Grace Tapscott (Hartselle, Ala.) dished out 35 assists along with five block assists and four digs.
Shaw added 10 kills on the offensive side and freshman libero
Tammy Melendez Mondragon (Pelham, Ala.) anchored the defense with 13 digs. She was joined by freshman middle blocker
Ra'Niya Brown (Desoto, Texas, Texas) with eight block assists and freshman defensive specialist
Miya Benson (Desoto, Texas) added 10 digs.
Freeman led B-CU with a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs while Moore posted 12 kills. Alleah Dallas added nine kills, four aces and five block assists and Alisha Callender produced a match-high 37 assists and 11 digs. Jaedyn Newman chipped in with nine kills and seven digs and Adriana Marrero and Jacynta Williams added 17 and 10 digs, respectively.
A&M is back in action tomorrow, Monday, October 3 when defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament Champion Florida A&M returns to Elmore Gymnasium. The Rattlers won their first league championship in Huntsville last year and will take the floor with a 6 p.m. first serve.
